MLB Rumors

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley extended his RBI streak to four games Wednesday against the Tigers, totaling three RBI as he finished 3 for 5 with one run. Brantley has totaled nine RBI in his last four games, while batting .438 (7 for 16) in that span.

Brantley is having a productive May, batting .338 (25 for 74) with one home run, one double, 10 runs and 15 RBI in 21 games (18 starts).

Mets pitching prospect Zack Wheeler admitted Thursday that he was not at his best in his return from shoulder inflammation Wednesday. Wheeler, who admitted to being rusty, had his turn skipped in the rotation due his shoulder issue.

"Honestly, nothing was working real well for me today," he said to the New York Post. "Taking 10 days off and missing a start this late in the season and coming back as sharp as you were is tough."

Wheeler hit 100 miles per hour on the radar gun, but reportedly saw his velocity dip as the start went on. He allowed two home runs among his five hits, surrendering three runs in five innings of work.

Wheeler expects to be fine for his next turn in the rotation. 

White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko ended his home run drought at 17 games as he teed off for a solo home run Wednesday against the Red Sox. It was his fifth home run and first since April 28.

Konerko isn't having a very productive May, batting .212 (14 for 66) with one home run, two doubles, three RBI, seven runs, seven walks and 10 strikeouts.

The Rangers signed veteran Mark Teahen to a minor-league contract Thursday. Teahen was released by the Diamondbacks May 20.

Teahen had been playing for Arizona's Triple-A team prior to his release. Teahen hit .211 with three doubles and five RBI in 22 games for Reno.

The Rangers announced Thursday reliever Derek Lowe was released after clearing waivers Wednesday. The veteran right-hander was designated for assignment Monday.

Rangers reliever Tanner Scheppers ranks second in the major leagues among relievers with four hit batters, trailing only Baltimore's Darren O'Day, who has hit five. Despite his tendency to plunk hitters, Scheppers said he's not changing his approach, which has resulted in a 3-0 record and 0.75 ERA through 21 outings.

"That’s part of the game," Scheppers said, per The Dallas Morning News. "Some guys hang over the plate, and it just happens. As a pitcher, you have to go inside. You can’t stick in one spot."

Rangers pitcher Ross Wolf, who won in his first major-league start Wednesday against the Athletics, might not be guaranteed another start. Manager Ron Washington waffled Wednesday about naming Wolf one of his starters for Monday's doubleheader at Arizona.

"We’ll make a decision on that as we move forward," Washington said, per The Dallas Morning News.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi has been juggling a lineup of four outfielders for three spots since Curtis Granderson came off the disabled list May 14. Girardi expressed Wednesday he would eventually like to settle on a rotation of three outfielders among Granderson, Brett Gardner, Vernon Wells and Ichiro Suzuki, but for now he will continue with the status quo.

"At some point you will probably get to where you will try and put out the same lineup every day," Girardi said. 

Girardi has a simple message for his outfielders.

"Just go out and play, that’s all you can do," Girardi said. "As we have seen there are so many things that can happen in this game that we might need to play all four of them."

Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he expects starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda to make his next start Tuesday against the Mets after the right-hander left his start Wednesday against the Orioles with a bruised right calf.

"I would be shocked if he couldn’t make his next start,’’ Girardi said, per the New York Post.

Kuroda also seems confident he will be back on the hill Tuesday.

"It will depend on how it feels [Thursday], but for me I will make the next start,’’ Kuroda said.

Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton had another promising performance Wednesday against the Mariners, driving in two runs for a second straight game and walking twice. After batting .202 through his first 32 games, Hamilton is batting .286 (14 for 49) with a .375 on-base percentage, .633 slugging percentage and 1.008 OPS in his last 14 games.

Hamilton will tell you, however, nothing in his approach has changed. 

"The ball is finding holes," Hamilton said, per the Los Angeles Times. "It's irritating for me to try to explain. Before … the results weren't there. So when the results finally get there, it's like something different happened. But it really hasn't. That's irritating."